Returnable Packaging and Empties Handling 

Purpose

Returnable packaging is packaging stored in the customer’s warehouse but still the property of your company. The customer is not obliged to pay for the packaging unless they do not return it by the agreed time. This scenario enables you to process how empties or euro-pallets are consumed or returned, for example. It also contains functions for selling empties on to a third party. Because returnable packaging is part of your stock, you must record the stock levels in your system. However, you must:

Prerequisites

The scenario for processing returnable packaging and empties is only for picking up and issuing returnable packaging. Shipping returnable packaging takes place as part of normal sales order processing and has only been described here for the sake of completion. You can only use this scenario in conjunction with other sales scenarios.

The following R/3 components are integrated into processing for returnable packaging and empties:

SAP Component

Functions

Sales

Sales Order Processing

Shipping

Deliveries, goods issue and receipt

Transportation

Transportation planning and processing

Billing

Debit memo processing

Process Flow

Returnable packaging and empties processing consists of three different business transactions:

Returnable packaging shipment

  1. You create the returnable packaging as a separate item in the sales order. The following functions are available:

    2. - Availability check

    - Delivery scheduling

    - Transfer of requirements to demand management

  2. You trigger shipping processing by creating deliveries from orders that are due to be shipped. The system checks both the availability of the product and the validity of the shipping deadlines.
  3. In picking, you remove goods from the warehouse and prepare them in the picking area.
  4. Goods issue is the final step in shipping. If there is no special stock (or special stock partner) for the customer, the system creates one automatically when goods issue is posted. The appropriate quantity is posted from the standard stock and added to the customer special stock. The total valuated stock in your warehouse remains unchanged.
  5. You can use transportation planning to group together the deliveries that are due to be transported. Essential planning activities are determining shipping deadlines and means of transport, and assigning routes.
  6. Transportation processing allows you to follow the transportation activities that take place after planning.
  7. This transaction is not relevant for billing because the customer’s special stock still belongs to your company.

Returnable packaging pickup

  1. This is for returning packaging. To do this, you create a suitable order (returnable packaging pickup) containing the returnable packaging items. This will give you an overview of the packaging in the customer special stock when you use an availability check.
  2. Enter the picked up or delivered packaging as a returns delivery in shipping.
  3. When goods issue is posted, the quantity is posted from the customer special stock and posted to the normal stock of the plant, to which it is being returned. The total valuated stock remains the same because the returned goods have always remained part of your stock, even while at the customer.
  4. This transaction is not relevant for billing because the customer’s special stock still belongs to your company.

Returnable packaging issue

  1. If the customer damages or keeps the returnable packaging it is invoiced to them. You then create an order for returnable packaging issue with the returnable packaging items.
  2. You have to create a delivery in shipping in order to be able to post goods issue.
  3. When you post goods issue, the quantity is taken both from the customer special stock and your own valuated stock.
  4. Create an invoice for the delivery because the packaging now belongs to the customer.